The crew of Coast Guard Cutter Hollyhock, a 225-foot sea-going buoy tender homeported in Port Huron, Mich., continues breaking ice as it transits to St. Ignace, Mich., to undergo a full damage assessment after the Hollyhock was involved in a collision with the motor vessel Mesabi Miner in northern Lake Michigan, Jan. 5, 2014. Both the Hollyhock and the Mesabi Miner were damaged in the collision but were able to continue underway. / U.S. Coast Guard photo

NEWS RELEASE

UNITED STATES COAST GUARD

*************************

CLEVELAND — The Coast Guard Cutter Hollyhock was involved in a collision with a 990-foot motor vessel in northern Lake Michigan Sunday morning.

The Hollyhock is a 225-foot sea-going buoy tender homeported in Port Huron, Mich., and was conducting an ice escort at the time of the collision.

At about 10:45 a.m., the Hollyhock was breaking ice in front of the motor vessel Mesabi Miner during when the collision occurred.

The cutter's crew reported significant damage to the stern and fantail, as well as two punctures in the hull about 20 feet above the waterline.

The crew of the Mesabi Miner, en route to Gary, Ind., reported a 12-inch crack in the bow about 4 feet above the waterline and said the bow is pushed in about 8 to 12 inches.

No pollution or injuries have been reported concerning the incident and neither vessel has reported any flooding.

The Hollyhock arrived and moored up in St. Ignace, Mich., at about 8:30 p.m., Sunday.

It is currently undergoing a complete damage assessment.

The Coast Guard Cutter Biscayne Bay, a 140-foot ice-breaking tug, homeported in St. Ignace, escorted the Hollyhock as a precaution.

The Mesabi Miner will unload its cargo in Gary, Ind., and then the damage and planned repairs will be assessed.

Today's Poll

What's your favourite winter temperature range?

Between 0 and -5 Celsius Between -5 and -10 Celsius Between -10 and -15 Celsius Between -15 and -20 Celsius Between -20 and -25 Celsius Between -25 and -30 Celsius -30 Celsius and below I prefer it to be above zero, thank-you-very-much